General Ham Exam: with Comments (2023-2027)

By Josip Medved

A handy guide to cramming for the General class ham exam (2023-2027). It contains all the questions with the correct answer marked and helpful comments sprinkled around.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Josip Medved
• Release date: Jun 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223616511

Book preview

General Ham Exam: with Comments

Comments by:

Josip Medved

Exam questions by:

NCVEC

2023-2027 General Question Pool

Revised 2023-04-15

For my exam, I found that going over all the questions, combined with a short (sometime oversimplified) explanation, was more than enough. So I took all those explanations, rationalizations, and opinions I used to remember the correct answers and wrote them down so that you can view them too.

Of course, just going over it once probably will not suffice. You'll want to have a few test exams too. For this you can use one of the many online sites allowing for practice or, if you prefer an offline application, you can also use my HamCheck at www.medo64.com/hamcheck. Select whatever works for you.

For both practice and the real exam, get into the habit of having paper and using it for calculations and for writing down formulas. It really helps with memory. A calculator itself is optional as most calculations you need to do become trivial once you understand the concept.

With a few practice runs under the belt, the test should be a breeze. The real learning can start then.

Good luck!

Josip Medved, AF7RG

G1

COMMISSION'S RULES

G1A

General class control operator frequency privileges; primary and secondary allocations

G1A01

On which HF and/or MF amateur bands are there portions where General class licensees cannot transmit?

A: 60 meters, 30 meters, 17 meters, and 12 meters

B: 160 meters, 60 meters, 15 meters, and 12 meters

C: 80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters, and 15 meters

D: 80 meters, 20 meters, 15 meters, and 10 meters

FCC Part 97.301(d)

These bands have portions where General class licensees cannot transmit because they are reserved for more advanced license classes.

G1A02

On which of the following bands is phone operation prohibited?

A: 160 meters

B: 30 meters

C: 17 meters

D: 12 meters

FCC Part 97.305

Phone operation is prohibited on the 30-meter band. This band is designated for narrow-band modes like Morse code (CW) and data communications, not for phone (voice) communications.

G1A03

On which of the following bands is image transmission prohibited?

A: 160 meters

B: 30 meters

C: 20 meters

D: 12 meters

FCC Part 97.305

Image transmission is prohibited on the 30-meter band (10.10 to 10.15 MHz) due to the band being designated for narrow-band digital and CW (Continuous Wave) communications.

G1A04

Which of the following amateur bands is restricted to communication only on specific channels, rather than frequency ranges?

A: 11 meters

B: 12 meters

C: 30 meters

D: 60 meters

FCC Part 97.303(h)

The 60-meter band is restricted to communication only on specific channels, rather than frequency ranges. This limitation is in place in order to avoid interference with other radio services that share the same band.

G1A05

On which of the following frequencies are General class licensees prohibited from operating as control operator?

A: 7.125 MHz to 7.175 MHz

B: 28.000 MHz to 28.025 MHz

C: 21.275 MHz to 21.300 MHz

D: All of the above

FCC Part 97.301(d)

General class licensees are prohibited from operating as control operators in this frequency range because it is exclusively designated for Extra class licensees.

The other frequency ranges mentioned in options B and C are available for General class licensees to operate as control operators.

G1A06

Which of the following applies when the FCC rules designate the amateur service as a secondary user on a band?

A: Amateur stations must record the call sign of the primary service station before operating on a frequency assigned to that station

B: Amateur stations may use the band only during emergencies

C: Amateur stations must not cause harmful interference to primary users and must accept interference from primary users

D: Amateur stations may only operate during specific hours of the day, while primary users are permitted 24-hour use of the band

FCC Part 97.303

When the FCC designates the amateur service as a secondary user on a band, it means that they have the responsibility to avoid causing harmful interference to the primary users, who have priority in using the band. Additionally, amateur stations must also be prepared to accept any interference that may come from the primary users, as the primary users have the right to uninterrupted use of the band.

G1A07

On which amateur frequencies in the 10-meter band may stations with a General class control operator transmit CW emissions?

A: 28.000 MHz to 28.025 MHz only

B: 28.000 MHz to 28.300 MHz only

C: 28.025 MHz to 28.300 MHz only

D: The entire band

FCC Part 97.305(a)

Stations with a General class control operator can transmit CW (Continuous Wave) emissions on the entire 10-meter band.

G1A08

Which HF bands have segments exclusively allocated to Amateur Extra licensees?

A: All HF bands

B: 80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters, and 15 meters

C: All HF bands except 160 meters and 10 meters

D: 60 meters, 30 meters, 17 meters, and 12 meters

FCC Part 97.301(b)

80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters, and 15 meters have segments that are exclusively allocated to Amateur Extra class licensees, while the other bands are either shared among the various license classes or don't have exclusive segments allocated to any particular class.

G1A09

Which of the following frequencies is within the General class portion of the 15-meter band?

A: 14250 kHz

B: 18155 kHz

C: 21300 kHz

D: 24900 kHz

FCC Part 97.301(d)

The General class portion of the 15-meter band falls within the frequency range of 21.025 MHz to 21.45 MHz. Out of the given options, only 21300 kHz (21.3 MHz) falls within this range.

G1A10

What portion of the 10-meter band is available for repeater use?

A: The entire band

B: The portion between 28.1 MHz and 28.2 MHz

C: The portion between 28.3 MHz and 28.5 MHz

D: The portion above 29.5 MHz

FCC Part 97.205(b)

The portion of the 10-meter band available for repeater use is the segment above 29.5 MHz. This segment is designated for repeater operations and FM simplex communications in amateur radio.

G1A11

When General class licensees are not permitted to use the entire voice portion of a band, which portion of the voice segment is available to them?

A: The lower frequency portion

B: The upper frequency portion

C: The lower frequency portion on frequencies below 7.3 MHz, and the upper portion on frequencies above 14.150 MHz

D: The upper frequency portion on frequencies below 7.3 MHz, and the lower portion on frequencies above 14.150 MHz

FCC Part 97.301

When General class licensees cannot use the entire voice portion of a band, they are permitted to use the upper frequency portion of the voice segment. This ensures that they still have access to a specific portion within the voice segment for their communications.

G1B

Antenna structure limitations; good engineering and good amateur practice; beacon operation; prohibited transmissions; retransmitting radio signals

G1B01

What is the maximum height above ground for an antenna structure not near a public use airport without requiring notification to the FAA and registration with the FCC?

A: 50 feet

B: 100 feet

C: 200 feet

D: 250 feet

FCC Part 97.15(a)

Antenna structures that exceed 200 feet above ground level require notification to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and registration with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for safety reasons, as they may pose a hazard to air navigation.

G1B02

With which of the following conditions must beacon stations comply?

A: No more than one beacon station may transmit in the same band from the same station location

B: The frequency must be coordinated with the National Beacon Organization

C: The frequency must be posted on the internet or published in a national periodical

D: All these choices are correct

FCC Part 97.203(b)

No more than one beacon station may transmit in the same band from the same station location. This means that beacon stations must ensure that only a single transmitter is operating within a specific frequency band from a single location. This helps to prevent interference and overcrowding of the radio frequency spectrum, allowing for efficient and effective communication for all users.

G1B03

Which of the following is a purpose of a beacon station as identified in the FCC rules?

A: Observation of propagation and reception

B: Automatic identification of repeaters

C: Transmission of bulletins of general interest to amateur radio licensees

D: All these choices are correct

FCC Part 97.3(a)(9)

A beacon station's purpose, as identified in the FCC rules, is to observe and study radio propagation and reception. This helps amateur radio operators understand how signals travel through the atmosphere and determine the best frequencies and times for communication.

G1B04

Which of the following transmissions is permitted for all amateur stations?

A: Unidentified transmissions of less than 10 seconds duration for test purposes only

B: Automatic retransmission of other amateur signals by any amateur station

C: Occasional retransmission of weather and propagation forecast information from US government stations

D: Encrypted messages, if not intended to facilitate a criminal act

FCC Part 97.113(c)

Occasional retransmission of weather and propagation forecast information from US government stations is allowed for all amateur stations. This is because such information is important for the safety and well-being of amateur radio operators and the general public, and helps amateurs make informed decisions about their radio operations.

Other options are not permitted because they involve either unidentified transmissions (A), automatic retransmission of signals that could potentially cause interference to other radio services (B), or encrypted messages that may not be transparent to all users and regulators (D).

G1B05

Which of the following one-way transmissions are permitted?

A: Unidentified test transmissions of less than 10 seconds in duration

B: Transmissions to assist with learning the International Morse code

C: Regular transmissions offering equipment for sale, if intended for amateur radio use

D: All these choices are correct

FCC Part 97.111((5)(b)

Transmissions to assist with learning the International Morse code are a permissible one-way transmission since. This type of transmission serves an educational purpose and can help amateur radio operators improve their skills in Morse code, a valuable tool for communication in the amateur radio community.

Unidentified test transmissions, regardless of their duration, can cause interference to other users and are not allowed. Regular transmissions offering equipment for sale are not considered appropriate one-way transmissions for amateur radio use, even if the equipment is intended for amateur radio purposes.

G1B06

Under what conditions are state and local governments permitted to regulate amateur radio antenna structures?

A: Under no circumstances, FCC rules take priority

B: At any time and to any extent necessary to accomplish a legitimate purpose of the state or local entity, provided that proper filings are made with the FCC

C: Only when such structures exceed 50 feet in height and are clearly visible 1,000 feet from the structure

D: Amateur Service communications must be reasonably accommodated, and regulations must constitute the minimum practical to accommodate a legitimate purpose of the state or local entity

FCC Part 97.15(b), PRB-1, 101 FCC 2d 952 (1985)

The state and local governments can regulate amateur radio antenna structures, but they must do so in a way that reasonably accommodates Amateur Service communications and only to the extent necessary to serve a legitimate purpose of the state or local entity.

G1B07

What are the restrictions on the use of abbreviations or procedural signals in the amateur service?

A: Only Q signals are permitted

B: They may be used if they do not obscure the meaning of a message

C: They are not permitted

D: They are limited to those expressly listed in Part 97 of the FCC rules

FCC Part 97.113(a)(4)

Abbreviations may be used if they do not obscure the meaning of a message. This means that abbreviations and procedural signals can be used in the amateur service as long as they do not make the message unclear or difficult to understand.

G1B08

When is it permissible to communicate with amateur stations in countries outside the areas administered by the Federal Communications Commission?

A: Only when the foreign country has a formal third-party agreement filed with the FCC

B: When the contact is with amateurs in any country except those whose administrations have notified the ITU that they object to such communications

C: Only when the contact is with amateurs licensed by a country which is a member of the United Nations, or by a territory possessed by such a country

D: Only when the contact is with amateurs licensed by a country which is a member of the International Amateur Radio Union, or by a territory possessed by such a country

FCC Part 97.111(a)(1)

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the global organization responsible for international communication standards and regulations. When a country's administration informs the ITU that they do not want their amateur radio operators to communicate with those outside of their jurisdiction, it is essential to respect their decision to maintain the global cooperation and adherence to established protocols within the amateur radio community. Therefore, it is permissible to communicate with amateur stations in countries outside the areas administered by the Federal Communications Commission, as long as the countries involved have not objected to such communications through the ITU.

G1B09

On what HF frequencies are automatically controlled beacons permitted?

A: On any frequency if power is less than 1 watt

B: On any frequency if transmissions are in Morse code

C: 21.08 MHz to 21.09 MHz

D: 28.20 MHz to 28.30 MHz

FCC Part 97.203(d)

Automatically controlled beacons are permitted on HF frequencies from 28.20 MHz to 28.30 MHz. The other options do not refer to correct regulations